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Major road among those flooded as torrential rain hits Toronto

Flooding was also disrupting life in many other parts of the Greater Toronto Area.

Drivers were left stranded as flood waters blocked the Don Valley Parkway following heavy rain in Toronto (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP)
Drivers were left stranded as flood waters blocked the Don Valley Parkway following heavy rain in Toronto (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP) (Arlyn McAdorey/AP)

A major road, several thoroughfares and a key transit hub were flooded in Canada’s largest city on Tuesday after torrential rain hit Toronto, while power outages were reported in multiple areas.

Toronto police said part of the Don Valley Parkway, which runs from the north part of the city into the downtown area, was closed due to flooding. They also said part of Lakeshore Boulevard, which runs along Lake Ontario, was flooded and closed.

At the heart of the downtown core, flooding was reported at Union station, a key transit terminus.

Cars partially submerged in flood waters in Toronto (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP)
Cars partially submerged in flood waters in Toronto (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP) (Arlyn McAdorey/AP)

Subway trains were not stopping at Union, the Toronto Transit Commission said, while several buses and streetcars were making detours on their regular routes across the city due to localised flooding.

Billy Bishop Airport, which is located on the Toronto Islands minutes from downtown, said its pedestrian tunnel had been closed due to flooding, with passengers directed to take the ferry over to the airport.

Flooding was also disrupting life in many other parts of the Greater Toronto Area, with the provincial police warning of flooding on parts of major roads and local police forces urging caution.

Drivers stranded due to flood waters in Toronto (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP)
Drivers stranded due to flood waters in Toronto (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP) (Arlyn McAdorey/AP)

In Peel Region, west of Toronto, police said they had reports of manhole covers lifting due to the volume of rain and were urging residents to use caution when driving.

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority issued a flood warning and said that shorelines, rivers and streams in the Greater Toronto Area should be considered dangerous.

Environment Canada had issued rainfall warnings for the Greater Toronto Area and much of southern Ontario as a mix of heavy rain and thunderstorms moved across the region.